Mr. Fannin was born Sept. 23, 1929, in Topeka, the son of William S. Sr. and Ruth Louise (Williams) Fannin.

He had been an area resident since 1950. He worked as a logger, truck driver and farmer. He formerly owned and operated Fannin Sawmill.

Mr. Fannin served on the Sarcoxie Fire District No. 4 as a truck captain from 1980 to 2001 and was instrumental in starting the fire department in 1985. He was a member of the Jefferson County Firefighters Association, National Rifle Association and Lawrence Parkinson's Support Group. He was a member of McLouth Church of the Nazarene.

He married Dorothy J. Mooney on Dec. 7, 1950, in Topeka. She survives, of the home in Oskaloosa.